Anchor

Chapter three

I didn't scare easily.

When you grow up in such a hostile environment you become use to seeing things a child shouldn't. I wasn't scared when my mother threw a fit of rage and smashed the little furniture we had, wasn't scared the first time my father beat me until I was black and blue, wasn't scared when she went missing for weeks and I had nothing to eat or drink. You get the point.

But this moment, as I fed my sick brother a bowl of hot soup, were the moments I feared the most. In this day and age the slightest things could kill a child due to their immune systems not being use to the bugs and viruses which could unknowingly enter your body.

My sister watched from her side of the bed as I fed our brother

"Is he going to be ok?" Her doe eyes looking back at me with such innocence it clenched my heart

"When we get him the right medicine, he will be"

Biting her bottom lip I saw the tears in her eyes "hey" walking over I sat beside her and brought her close stroking her hair as her arms wrapped tight around me "it'll be ok" kissing the crown of her forehead I pulled back "I have to get to work, but I want you to look after our brother ok? Don't open the doors, any sign of trouble come to me"

She nodded and went next to David who was now sleeping peacefully.
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John

Polly eyed me from across the breakfast table. Lotte and Tommy sat with us as they remained oblivious to everything around them.

"If you've got something to say aunt Pol just say it"

Setting down her tea she gave me a look "finally done drinking your troubles away"

"Leave him be Polly" Tommy came to my defence "he needed to get through it on his own"

"What I'm asking is who gave you the kick in the arse to come to your children"

"Interesting question, no man would do that on his own" Lotte grinned at me over her mug causing me to sigh

"No one alright I just missed my kids"

Lotte narrowed her eyes causing Tommy to grin around his cigerette "bullshit, tell us who, gathering why your so reluctant I say it's a female"

Giving in I told them about the barmaid.

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Birmingham

The days seem to get longer as I began to walk home with dinner in hand. Harry had kindly given me some food for me and my siblings for supper.  As I rounded the corner to my street I spotted a man passed out by our doorstep.

For a moment I thought it was our father but on closer expection I let out a sigh of relief.

"Hey" kicking his legs the man he mumbled incorrently "get up"

"S'my home" he finally looked at me through red rimmed eyed

"Last time I checked I had two siblings both of which are far younger than you, shift your arse, you don't live here"

He frowned and seemed to gather his senses "ahhh shit" he stood and leaned against the wall "sorry luv, thought I was 'ome"

"Yeah I gathered that" spotting his cap which was slightly muddy I saw the razor blades sticking out at the edge. After John left Harry pulled me aside and warned me about him and his brothers

"You'll here the talk Emily, they're a gang they call themselves the Peaky Blinders, they run protection and jobs through Birmingham. It's not so wise to be speaking like that to any of them. John used to be esdy going but he got his heart broken you see, Tommy is the leader but he mostly lives in London now with his wife who's also a member. Arthur can get a bit grabby with the females but he's kind of the drunk in the family"

"you'll recognise the brothers they've all got blades in the caps"

Gathering by what Harry told me I had a good idea who this was "Arthur right? Arthur Shelby"

"You've heard of me then" he seemed to take that as a compliment gathering by the smirk on his face

"Obviously" looking up i caught sight of my sister looking nervous I gave her a smile to let her know everything was ok. I looked back to the man "can you make it back to your house?"

"Why? You offering for me to come in" he smirked at me but I gave him a cold look in return "ah not that type of woman, should have guessed,  sorry I'll get out of your way" he stumbled a little before walking properly. Bloody Shelbys.

The front door opened revealing both my siblings "come on then monkeys, I've got dinner and medicine"